Coin-controlled skimmed-milk measurer.



No., 633,002. Patented Sept. l2, I899.

A. D. HILL.

COIN CONTRDLLED SKIMMED MILK MEASUBER.

IApplication filed Feb. 4, 1899.) (No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet I,

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Van/1 No. 633,002. Patented Sept. 12, I899. A. D. HILL.

COIN CONTROLLED SKIMMED MILK MEASURER.

Application filed Feb. 4, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shea: 2.

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No. 633,002. Patented Sept. l2, I899.

' A. n. HILL.

COIN CONTROLLED SKIMMED MILK MEASURER.

lApplicatmn filed Feb. 4, 1899.; V I'NO Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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No. 633,002. Patented Sept. 12,1899.

A. D. HILL.

COIN CONTROLLED SKIMMED MILK MEASUREB.

Applicntion filed Feb. 4, 1899.)

V 4 She9tsSheet 4.

{No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEErcE.

ADELBERT D. HILL, OF NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA.

COIN-CONTROLLED SKlMMED-MILK MEASURER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 633,002, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed February 4, 1899. Serial No. 704,468. (No model.)

To all 1072,0722, it ntrty concern:

Be it known that I, ADELBERT D. HILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Northfield, in the county of Rice and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skimmed-MilkMeasurers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to devices for dispensing or deliveringliquids and is spe' cially designed to meet the requirements ofcreameries for the convenient and accurate delivery of the properquantities of skimmed milk to the farmers or other customers.

It is the especial object of my present invention to provide a devicefor the above purpose which will not only accurately measure the variousquantities of skimmed milk to which the farmers or customers areentitled, but which will perform these measurements without requiringthe services of an attendant and which at the same time will not bedependent on the honesty of the customer who draws off his particularportion.

My invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The preferred form of the apparatus by which I accomplish the aboveobjects is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, illustrating the entire apparatus.Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken centrally through a portion of theapparatus, but with some parts shown in full. Fig. 3 is a viewcorresponding to Fig. 2, but illustrating different positions of theparts. Fig. 4 is a plan view'of the apparatus, with some parts removedand others shown in section. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken approximately on a line 03 of Fig. 4. Figs. (3 and 7 are detailedviews in vertical section, taken approximately on the line or 00 of Fig.4, but illustrating different positions of the three way valve. Fig. 8is a detail taken in transverse vertical section approximately on theline .u a on Fig. at. Fig. 9 is a detail in transverse vertical sectiontaken on the line 00 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan showing thecam-block removed from working position, and Fig. 11 is a plan viewshowing one of the so-called quantity-checks.

The numeral 1 represents the supply-pipe which leads from the storagetank, (not shown,) wherein the skimmed milk has been accumulated, to thevalve casting or seat 2. Said valve casting 2 is provided with anordinary three-way valve 3 and with proper ports for cooperation withthe ports of the threeway valve. Said casting 2 is tapped by a pair ofbranch pipes and 5, the former of which leads to a suitableliquid-receptacle 6, tapping the same at the bottom, while the latterpipe leads to the proper point of discharge and would usually beprovided with an ordinary stop-cock or faucet. (Not shown).

The receptacle 6 is preferably cylindrical in form and should be of suchsize that it will hold at one time the largest quantity of milk to whichany customer would be entitled. In the receptacle 6 is located a float7, which, as shown and preferred, is in the form of a drum or hollowpiston which fits the interior of receptacle 6 sufficiently close tomake the walls of said receptacle serve as a guide for the float.

To the float 7 is attached centrally thereof a vertically-disposed andtapered or wedgeshaped standard 8, which, as shown, works through a slot9 in the top of the receptacle 6, the purpose and action of whichstandard will be hereinafter fully described. To prop erly guide thestandard 8, it is provided with a long slot 8 and the top of thereceptacle 6 is provided with a fixed pin 8", which works in said slot.

To give access to the interior of the receptacle 6, its top ispreferably provided with a hinged leaf 10, and these side leaves areordinarily secured down or closed by means of has p and staplefastenings 11 and padlock 12 or by some other suitable means.

At the rigid section and central portion of the top of the receptacle 6is a vertical guide tube or stack 13, which incloses the slot 9 andwhich, as shown, is rectangular in cross-section. 'Within thisguide-tube 13 is a camblock 14, the bottom of which is provided withinclined cam-surfaces, as shown at 15, and is provided with paralleldepending flanges 16,

the forward ends of which are 'beveled, as shown at 17, toinsure theproper engagements of the quantity-check on the cam-surface 15.

Working transversely through a suitable seat in the guide tube or stack13, just below the cam-block 14, is a feed-slide or check-carrier 18,which is recessed, as shown at 19, to 'form a seat or pocket for theso-called quantity-checks. The seat or pocket 19 is open or runs out atthe inner end of the slide 18, and the said slide is provided at thebottom of said seat with a longitudinally-extended slot 20, throughwhich the wedge shaped standard 8 of the float 7 may pass withoutengagement.

Theso-called quantity-check, in its preferred form, is indicated by thenumeral 21, and it is provided with a slot or rectangular perforation 22and with laterally-spaced cam lugs or cars 23 at the end thereof, whichshould be placed inward when the check is put into use. The cam lugs orears 23 are so spaced that they are adapted for engagement with thecam-surfaces of the cam-block 14. hen the float7 is raised,the upper endof the wedgeshaped standard 8 will be moved upward through theperforation or slot in the slide 18, through the slot 22 of thequantity-check 21, and between the flanges 16 of the camblock 14. Underthe action of the inflowing milk or liquid the float will be forcedupward until it is stopped by the engagement of the edges of the wedge 8with the extremities of the said slot 22 of the quantity-check 21. Thisaction will more clearly appear in the description of the operation.

The three-wayvalve 3 is provided with a projecting stem, whichterminates in a handpiece 24, and is also provided outward of its seatwith a lock-segment 25. This lock-segment 25 is provided withlock-notches 26 and 27, which cooperate with a pivoted detent orlock-piece 28, that is suitably pivoted to ears 29 of the collar 30,which latter, as shown, is secured to the valve-casting 2 by means of aset-screw 31. The said notches 26 and 27 cooperate, respectively, withthe detent or lookpiece 28 to hold the three-way valve in itsdischarging or normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, and in its fillingposition,'as shown in Fig. 7. In the construction illustrated thethree-way valve is put under strain to automatically move into itsdischarging position (shown in Fig. 6) by means of a coiled spring 32and a link or rod 33, which parts directly connect the lock-segment 25to one side of the bottom flange of the receptacle 6. Normally thethree-way valve is set and locked in its discharging position by theengagement of the detent 28 with the lock-notch 26, and in this positiona pivoted and gravity-actuated catch 33, carried by the lock-segment 25,is held in an inoperative position by the free end of the detent 28. Thelength of the upper end of this so-callec catch 33 is such that when itis released and thrown by gravity in an approximately vertical positionit will project slightly above the locknotch 26 fora purpose which willhereinafter appear. About midway between the lock-notches 26 and 27 thelock-segment 25 is provided with a camnotch 34, and very close to thenotch 26 is provided with another and similar cam-notch 35, the exactpurposes ofewhich will be clearly brought out in the description of theoperation. It may be here stated, however, that these so-calledcam-notches 34 and 35 permit the movement of the three-way valve fromits discharging position (shown in Fig. 6) toward its filling position,(shown in Fig. 7,) as under this movement their beveled sides cam orlift the free end of the detent 28 upward, as will be clearly apparent,but prevent the reverse movement of the same when engaged by the detent28. It may be here further stated that the position of the notch 34issuch that it will be engaged by the detent 28 immediately after thepassage leading to the faucet-that is,to the pipe-section 5has beenclosed.

The innerend of the detent 28 is connected by a rod 36 to one end of alever 37, which is pivoted at its intermediate portion on a standard 38,secured to the rigid and central section of the top of the receptacle ortank 6. The other end of thelever 37 is connected to the cam-block 14,as shown, by means of a screw 39. A spring 40 placed between thecam-block 14 and the lever 37 permits a yielding movement of the lever37 with respect to the said cam-block.

A suitable housing (indicated by the numeral 41) is placed over theoperating mechanism and suitably secured to prevent tampering with thesaid mechanism. Suitable passages, through which the handpiece 24 andthe feed-slide 18 work, are provided in the housing. The quantity-checksfed into the housing are dropped into a pocket 42, formed on the rigidsection of the top of the receptacle 6. The checks may from time to timebe removed from this pocket 42 through a door 43, provided at one end ofthe housing. This door will ordinarily be secured by some suitable lock,and, as shown, is secured by a hasp-aud-pin fastening 44 and a padlock45.

As asimple means for preventing the float from rotating within thereceptacle 6 it is provided with peripheral notches 46, with whichvertical feathers or flanges 47 on theinterior of said receptacleloosely engage.

It is intended as a part of my present scheme to provide a plurality ofthe so-called quantity-checks corresponding to the different quantitiesor different amounts of milk or liquid which it may be desired to drawoff from time to time and to provide the checks corresponding to thediiferent quantities with slots of diflerent lengths, which slots are sorelated to the wedge-shaped standard 8 as to give the predeterminedquantity when the particular check is used as a stop to limit the upwardmovement of the'float. These quantity-checks are for conveniencepreferably marked to indicate the quantity ofmilk which the customer mayobtain by the use of the same in connection with the feed-slide andlock-tripping mechanism.

The operation of the apparatus above described will be substantially asfollows: Normally the parts stand in the position indicated in Figs. 1,2, 4, and 6, in which position the three-way valve is locked in itssocalled discharging positionthat is, in a position to permit the escapeof the skimmed milk or liquid from the receptacle 6 through thepipe-sections at and 5 and the faucet. (Not shown.) The customer isgiven a check or checks which correspond to the amount of skimmed milkto which he is entitled, and no further attention need be given by thepurchaser of the cream to the subsequent use of the checks. The customersimply goes to the apparatus and places his check in the seat or socket19 of the slide or carrier 18 with the pair of cam lugs or ears 23thereof positioned upward and inward, and then forces the said slide orcarrier inward to its limit. Under this movement the said cam lugs orears 23 are forced into engagement with the inclined or cam surfaces 15of the cam-block 14:, thereby forcing the said camblock upward. Theupward movement of the cam-block 14, acting through the lever 37 and rod36, will raise the free end of the detent 28 above the locknotch 26,thus releasing the three-way valve and its lock-segment 25 andpermitting the upper free end of the gravity-actuated catch 33 to swingunder the free end of the said detent 28, and thereby prevent the saiddetent from falling back into the said lock-notch 26. As soon as the camlugs or ears 23 have passed beyond the cam-block 14 the said cam-blockwill under the combined action of gravity and tension of the spring 40be thrown downward behind the upper portions of the said lugs, and inthis way it is made impossible to withdraw the quantity-cl'ieck whichhas once been used by the subsequent outward movement of the slide 18 orby other means. However, the catch 33 holds the detent 28 inoperativefor the time being, so that the operator by taking hold of the handpiece2a or any suitable extension therefrom may move the three-way valve intoits so-called filling position, (shown in Fig. 7,) or, in other words,into a position to permit the flow of the skimmed milk through thesupply-pipe l and branch pipe 4 into the bottom portion of thereceptacle or tank 6. As the skimmed milk or liquid flows into thereceptacle 6 it will of course force the float 7 and its wedge-shapedstandard 8 upward. As the said wedge-shaped standard 8 is moved upwardit will pass through the slot 20 of the slide 18 without engagement andwill pass through the perforation or slot 22 of the quantity-check 21and will move upward until its edges engage the extremities or ends ofthe said slot 22. The quantity-chock then becomes a stop to limit thefarther upward movement of the standard 8 and float '7 with respectthereto; but the force of the said float is sufficient to raise the saidquantity-check and the cam-block 14, which latter at this time isresting 011 the body of the same, and this upward movement of the saidcam-block 14 will, through the levers 37 and rod 36, raise the free endof the detent 28 out of its set engagement with the lock-notch 27,thereby permitting the spring 32 to become active and quickly throw thethree-way valve back into its normal or discharging position.(Inclicated in Figs. 2 and 6.) The final portion of this return movementof the three-way valve and its lock-segment 25 brought the upper freeend of the catch 33 into engagement with the free end of the said detent28, and thereby forced the said catch 33 into an inoperative position,as shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the parts as soon as the skimmedmilk starts to run from the receptacle 6 the float 7, standard 8,quantity-check 21, and cam-block lat will lower slightly, therebypermitting the detent 28 to again engage the lock-n otch 2G, and therebylock the three-way valve and its lock-segment in their normal positions.It should be here stated that the arrangement is such that when thecam-block 14. is raised by the camming action of the cam-lugs of thequantity-check it will be raised slightly higher than it will when actedupon by the lifting action of the float 7 by reason of the lugs 23, sothat in the former case the said detent will be raised entirely abovethe upper end of the detent 33, while in the latter case it will beraised only high enough to clear the edge of the lock-segment 25, but inposition to strike the upper end of the said catch 33, as justdescribed. Were it not for the cam-notch 35 the operator would be veryliable to give the valve and its locksegment a slight movement and thenpermit the same to move backward a little, thereby permitting the detent28 to again engage with the lock-notch 26 without first having moved theValve into its filling position. In this Way the customers would beliable to lose a great many of their checks without receiving the properreturns in skimmed milk. However, the engagement of the detent with thesaid cam-notch 35 prevents this premature return movement of the valveand its lock-segment.

As already indicated, the engagement of the detent 28 with the cam-notch34 prevents the valve from being prematurely returned to its dischargingposition.

From the foregoing description and statements made it will be understoodthat my present invention is capable of a very large range ofmodification in the details of its construction.

In the specification and in the claims the socalled float partakesprobably as much of the nature of a piston as it does strictly of afloat, and it will therefore be understood that ITS this term is usedgenerically to include parts that are caused to move either from thepressure of the liquid or from their own buoyancy.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and movableinto another position, for filling, a lock for holding said valvemechanism in its normal position, a trip for said look, a float in saidliquid-containing receptacle, and devices under control of aquantity-check for rendering said float operative to actuate said tripand release said lock, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and understrain to move into another position, for filling, a lock for holdingsaid mechanism in its normal position, a trip for said lock, a floatwithin said liquid-containing receptacle, and a quantity-check forrendering said float operative to actuate said trip and to release saidlock, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and movableinto another position, for filling, of a lock operative to hold saidvalve mechanism both in its discharging and filling positions, a floatin said receptacle, a trip for said lock, under control of aquantity-check operative on said trip to primarily release said lock andserving as a stop to limit the upward movement of said float,substantially as described.

4- The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and movableinto another position, for filling a lock operative to hold said valvemechanism in its normal position, a trip for said lock involving a camblock or head, a float in said receptacle provided with a taperedstandard, said cam block or head adapted to be controlled by aquantity-check to release said lock, and said check having a perforationor seat engageable with said tapered stem or standard to limit theupward movement of said float and cause the same to again actuate saidtrip to permit said valve mechanism to be returned to normal position,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a liquid-contain ing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and movableinto another position, for filling, a lock operating to hold said valvemechanism in its normal position, a trip for said lock involving avertically-movable cam block or head and a transversely-movablefeed-slide, a float within said receptacle, said feed-slide constructedto carry a quantity-check into engagement with said cam-block, toactuate said trip and serving later as a stop to limit the upwardmovement of said float and cause said float to again actuate said trip,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position, for discharging, and movableinto another position, for filling, a lock operating to hold said valvemechanism in its discharging and filling positions, a trip for saidlock, involving the vertically-movable cam-block and thetransversely-movable feedslide having a recess or seat, a float in saidreceptacle having a tapered stem or standard, said slide adapted tocarry a quantity-check having one or more cam-acting end lugs for actionon said cam-block, and proa vided with a slot or perforation forcooperation with said stem or standard to limit the upward movement ofsaid float, the said parts operating substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, containing afloat with tapered stem or standard, of valve mechanism normally set inone position, for discharging, and movable into another position, forfilling, a lock operating to hold said valve mechanism in itsdischarging and in its filling positions, a trip for said lock involvingthe camblock with a yielding connection to said lock and the feed-slidehaving a recess or pocket, adapted to carry a quantity-check having theprojecting cam-lugs at one end and the elongated perforation or slot initsbody, the said parts operating substantially as described.

8. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism normally set in one position for discharging and movable intoanother position for filling, a vertically-pivoted lock-segment having anotch, a detent adapted to engage the notch, a gravitycatch pivoted onthe segment below the notch and norm ally held inoperative by saiddetent,

but operative to hold said detent inoperative.

after it has been released and until after certain movements of thevalve mechanism have been performed.

9. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle of valvemechanism controlling the delivery of the fluid therefrom, a lock orlatch for holding said valve mechanism in a set position, a trip forsaid look, a float in said receptacle, said trip and float being underthe control of a quantity-check to thereby trip the look by movement ofthe check and thereafter to and determine the rise of the float.

10. The combination with a liquid-containing receptacle, of valvemechanism controlling the delivery of the liquid therefrom, a lock orlatch for holding said valve mechanism in a set position, a float insaid receptacle, and a trip for said lock, which trip is adapted to beprimarily operated by movement of a quantity-check, and which float isadapted to be stopped by said check, said float acting through the checkto again actuate the which serves as a stop for the float and causes 10trip. the same to actuate the trip to release said 11. The combinationwith a liquid-containlook. ing receptacle, of valve mechanism for con-In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 trolling the delivery of thefluid therefrom, a in presence of two Witnesses.

lock for holding said valve mechanism in one ADELBERT D. HILL. position,a trip for said lock, afloat within lVitnesses: the receptacle, theupward movement of the M. M. MCGRORY,

float being controlled by a quantity-check F. D. l\[ERCHANT.

